Days ahead of US Special climate envoy John Kerry’s India visit on upping climate ambitions and a possible carbon neutrality goal, India has brought in new rules giving a near three year extension to its coal fired plants to comply with stiffer emission norms. As per the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules (EPAR) of 2015, all thermal power plants in the country were to switch to the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) system – which essentially reduces emissions of Sulphur Dioxide, Particulate matter and Oxides of Nitrogen- by December 2017. This deadline was shifted to 2022 after the Supreme Court stepped in.
